Shanti Orange County offers several kinds of help, and they work best when you know which is which.
Individual Counseling
What: One therapist, one client (or couples), ~50-minute sessions.
Who leads: Licensed or supervised masters-level clinicians.
Best for: Depression, anxiety, trauma, relationships, HIV disclosure, teen stress.
Cost: Insurance / CalOptima or $65–$100 low-cost.
Start: Intake, (949) 452-0888.
Group Therapy (Clinical)
What: Weekly HIV therapy group; a therapist facilitates clinical work.
Who leads: Licensed therapist.
Best for: Structured emotional processing with peers living with HIV.
Cost: Ask intake (low-cost fees starting at $65 may apply).
Start: Intake required, not a drop-in.
Peer Support (Community)
What: Círculo Latino (Spanish, monthly).
Who leads: Facilitators holding peer space, not psychotherapy.
Best for: Fellowship and language community.
Cost: Free, open meetings.
Start: Show up on schedule. See Support groups.
Case Management (Navigation)
What: Benefits, housing, medical appointments, pharmacy linkage.
Who leads: Case managers, not therapists.
Best for: Practical barriers when living with HIV.
Email: [email protected]
How Layers Combine
Example paths:
- New diagnosis → case management + counseling + later HIV therapy group
- Recovery → individual therapist + an outside 12-step meeting (see HIV and recovery support)
- Spanish preference → Círculo Latino + telehealth counseling en español
Intake prevents duplicate paperwork and coordinates timing.
Comparison Table
| Type | Leader | Enrollment | Typical cost | |------|--------|------------|--------------| | Individual counseling | Clinician | Intake | Insurance / low-cost | | HIV therapy group | Clinician | Intake | Ask intake | | Círculo Latino | Peer | Open | Free | | Case management | Staff | Intake | Program-specific |
Choose Without Pressure
You can attend Círculo Latino once while waiting for therapy enrollment. No conflict. Tell intake the full picture so they recommend a sustainable plan.
Next Step
First visit · Mental health counseling · HIV therapy group explained.
The Four Options at Shanti, Priced
| Service | Format | Cost | |---|---|---| | Individual counseling | One-to-one, in person or telehealth | $65 unlicensed / $100 licensed; many insurance plans incl. CalOptima accepted | | HIV therapy group | Clinician-led, weekly, by intake | Low-cost fees start at $65 | | Círculo Latino | Open Spanish-language circle, monthly | Free, no client relationship needed | | Case management | Navigation, ongoing | Own funding rules; ask intake |
Cost is often the real deciding factor and rarely the one people ask about first. Ask it first.
What Makes a Clinical Group Different
The HIV therapy group is led by a clinician and depends on consistent attendance. Because members return week after week and come to know one another, the group itself becomes a therapeutic instrument. Feedback from people who share your diagnosis carries a credibility that a clinician's cannot replicate.
An open community circle works differently and is not trying to do that job. Círculo Latino is about connection, resources, and not being alone in your language. Both are valuable; they are not interchangeable.
Case Management Is Not Support at All
Worth stating because it gets lumped in. Case management is logistics: connecting clients to medical and dental care, specialty pharmaceutical care, housing options, benefits counseling, emergency financial assistance, and nutrition support. A case manager builds a personal care plan.
If your problem is that you cannot get an appointment, cannot afford a prescription, or are about to lose housing, no amount of group processing fixes that. Different tool.
Stacking, Not Choosing
Most people do not pick one. A common shape: case management handles the practical barriers, individual mental health counseling handles the personal history, and a group handles the isolation. Intake will help sequence these rather than making you decide cold.
You can also start with one and add later. Tell intake if your situation changes.
Where to Ask
Call 949-452-0888, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm PT, or email [email protected]. For case management, [email protected].
Office at 23461 South Pointe Dr., Suite 100, Laguna Hills, free parking on site. Telehealth counseling available throughout California. Staff work in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Hindi, and all services are LGBTQ-affirming.
In crisis, 988 is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
